Oakland Raiders' running back Darren McFadden walking better

ALAMEDA -- Raiders running back Darren McFadden was moving well and walking without a limp Wednesday as he left the team facility and headed to his car in the parking lot, with a couple fans outside the security gate calling his name.

McFadden still was wearing a walking boot on his right foot, however, and coach Dennis Allen didn't sound overly optimistic, saying McFadden was "questionable" to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at O.co Coliseum.

The same goes for running back Mike Goodson, who like McFadden has a high right ankle sprain, and defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who was a spectator at practice because of a hamstring strain.

Seymour offered a friendly smile and volunteered, "I will say this -- I feel great, except for my hamstring."

Allen said in the absence of McFadden, Goodson and Seymour, the rotations would be similar to what they were in Sunday's 55-20 loss to Baltimore. Marcel Reece would be the lead back, with Jeremy Stewart getting work and Taiwan Jones getting a shot if he continues to show progress in the areas of ball security, general health and ability to execute the playbook.

Also missing practice were strong safety and leading tackler Tyvon Branch, out with a sore neck, and free safety Matt Giordano, currently undergoing the NFL concussion protocol.

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If either man -- or both -- couldn't play, it would cause another reshuffling of the secondary that could include moving cornerback Michael Huff back to free safety and starting Mike Mitchell at strong safety.

Joselio Hanson would be the likely candidate to start alongside Ron Bartell at cornerback, while Phillip Adams, Brandian Ross and Coye Francies are all available but primarily special teams players.

As for how the Raiders will adjust if necessary, Allen said, "We'll kind of keep that under our hats until this weekend."

New Orleans interim coach Joe Vitt relayed a story by conference call about a conversation he had with Al Davis as a 26-year-old assistant looking for work at the 1981 NFL scouting combine.

Vitt proudly rattled off his résumé -- three years in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts as a strength coach, a quality control coach, even passing out tickets in the plane.

"He looked me in the eye and said, 'Son, when I was 26 years old, I was commissioner of the AFL,' " Vitt said. "I crawled out of the locker room. He never forgot that, and I never forgot that."

A great story ... although a bit of an exaggeration on Davis' part. He wasn't the AFL commissioner until he was 34.

Linebacker Omar Gaither, who has played in 77 games with 40 starts over six seasons with Philadelphia and Carolina, was signed to the 53-man roster. He replaces Travis Goethel, who was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL.

Tight end Brandon Myers, listed with a concussion after the Baltimore game, was cleared to play, according to Allen. Myers said he didn't have a concussion.